Supporting grassroots development projects in Southern Africa

Thembisa is a small UK charity that raises money to fund grassroots projects in Southern Africa. Supporters include individuals, community groups, businesses, charities and colleges.

Save the date – ‘Friends of Thembisa’ South African braai, 29 April 2018

Please be our guest at a real braai on Sunday 29 April, 15h30 to 18h00.

The venue is Kidlington, Oxford, accessible on the no 2 bus.

RSVP to bfadam10@gmail.com by 22 April.

There isn’t a catch! Over some good South African food, we’d like to tell you more about the Thembisa Trust and our vision to help grassroots projects in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

NEWS: Stephen Bowley 17.2.1952-9.10.2017

We are very sad to announce that Stephen Bowley died of melanoma on 9 October, and we extend our deep sympathy to his wife Tonia and sons Adam and David. Together with Tonia, Stephen co-founded The Thembisa Trust in 1988. Since then Thembisa has supported more than 70 grassroots projects in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Stephen was a Trustee of Thembisa throughout that time, and was Chair of the Trustees since 2009. In 2016 Stephen and Tonia also co-founded the St Cross College Thembisa Hope Scholarship, to support deserving disadvantaged students from South Africa and neighbouring countries to study for a Master's degree in Oxford.

Stephen’s involvement in Thembisa’s activities (including our annual fund-raising walk, which he led, followed by a garden party/barbecue at his and Tonia’s home) demonstrated his compassion and concern for the less well off. He was generous in countless other ways too, offering his help wherever needed, and mentoring many colleagues in the planning world. He was a deep thinker, organised, hard working, kind, and fun-loving. We will all miss him very much.